Fire-protection apparatus



H. J. MJHOWARD.

FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS.

APPLCATION FILED NOV.29, 1920.

Patented Apr. 18-, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' H. 1. M. HOWARD.

FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Nov.29. 1920.

1,413,275, PaentedApr.18,1 922.

zsuEns-snzn 2.

2, that, should any one of the indicators fail to stand out in a substantially horizontal or inclined position, that fact will be apparent at once (see, for example, the middle indicator at the bottom row), and the watchman will, therefore, know that the conduit is failing' to function and will take. corrective measures, as will be presently explained. Each conduit, of course, may be numbered, as shown, to correspond to the number of the apartment or point to be protected, and

should there be an indication of fire'or smoke in any one of the apartments, the watchman Wlll at once proceed to investigate and takethe necessary stepswfor extinguishing the fire or correcting the undesirable conditions pertaining.

In order to maintain a uniform and steady draft through each and all ofthe conduits, the suction, chamber E is-Wconnected with an exhaustvpump, such as G, and the discharge end of this exhaust pump is provided with a valve or shut off H, and on the pump side of ble hose connection I and a nozzleli which his adapted toibe inserted. inthe discharge end of any one of theconduits. lViththifs arrangenient a reverse flow may be setup in any one of the conduits so as to blow out, any obstacles. such 21S (1U5i3,6i36., whlch may ac cumulate therein and thereby restore the conduit to its operative condition.

- Inasmuch as the frictional resistance to the passage of air through the conduits may pump capacity may be reduced 'or the inlet openings thereof, it can ranged that it cannot be be somewhat influenced by the length of the conduit, it becomes desirable to provide ome means whereby the flow may be made uni form in all of the conduits in or ler that the A as far as possible, and while this end may be accomplished by varying the size of the conduits also be accomplished by providing in eacL of the conduits a valv such, for example, as indicated at M, which may be set through any suitable instrunientality when the apparatus is installed, but whichwis preferably so arsubsequently tampered with so as to interfere with the functioning of the apparatus, and to this end the Ivalve may be located behind a removable Fig. 3.

What is claimed is Y 1. In fire protection apparatus, the combination with a plurality of conduits open at one end to the areas to be protected, a distant observation compartment into which said conduits open, means for withdrawing air from the compartment to induce a liow 7 0 of air, gas or smoke through the conduits into the compartment, and a flow indicator for indicating when such flow is interrupted or reversed.

2. In fire protection apparatus, the combination with a plurality of conduits open indicating when such flow, is interrupted or reversed. I

3. In fire protection apparatus, the combination with a plu-1'ality o' f conduits 0 m,

at one end tothe areas to be protected, a

distantsuction chamber er compartment 9 intowhich the opposite ends of said conduits open, said, suct on; chamber having'a transparent observation wall, means for withdrawing air from said chamber to in duce a constant draftoffiiirfthrough each offthe conduits, and a ,fiow indicator for each conduit whereby interruption lor' lie I p :fversal of flow in. any conduitlmay beob; V the valve or shut off there is provided a fiexi H A i g served;

(4,1111 protectibir apparatus, diatoml inat-ion" with a plurality of conduits open at one end to the. areas tobe protected, a distant observationj and suction chamber, or. compartment nto v hich' VtllQ"OPpQS1lJ G Tends Offiald condu ts open, atransparent'wa'llfin said compartment against which the eigit openings of saidconduit direct the air issir ing therefrom, means tor withdrawing the air from said compartment or chamber to" induce constant draft through ceachof said conduits, and flow indicator in said compartment at the exit-end of each conduit,

- apparatus, the cominto which said conduits open with means for withdrawing the air from said suction compartment or chamber, and an independe ent air flow indicatorfat the exit end of each conduit whereby failure, of air to flow through any conduit will be indicated. i 6. In fire protection apparatus, the, com-f bination with a plurality of conduits-open at one end to the areas to beprotected, a distant observation and suction chamber or compartment into whichsaid conduits.

open, a suction pump communicatingwith said chamber or compartment 'for drawing 130 air throughsaid conduits, and means for directing at will the discharge from'the pump into any individual conduit for reversing the direction of flow therein to clear the con- .duit of obstructions.

7. In fire protection apparatus, the combination with a plurality of conduits open at one end to the areas to be protected, a distant suction compartment or chamber ing the volume of air Withdrawn from each conduit-whereby the fiow'may. be made uniform in all conduits.

HENRY J. M. HO ARD;

air from the areas to be protected into and j V out of sand chamber, and means for regu1at-- 

